Quilts from this weekend's Spring Retreat just bloomed before our very eyes. The quilters all did a great job at piecing and sewing everything together, and the results are beautiful! Everyone really made Suzanne's design show beautifully. Here's a look at the finished quilt tops:
Batiks: Brights:
Pastels:
Once again, great job and big thanks to all the quilters who came out and quilted with us at the Spring Retreat! We can't wait to see how y'all plan to finish out your projects!
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Well, another of Suzanne's retreats has come and gone! This past weekend, quilters from all over Georgia--actually, from all over the United States!!!--joined together at the Gerorgia Baptist Conference Center in Norman Park, Georgia for another fun weekend of quilting. Because the 2009 Fall Retreat was such a success, Suzanne couldn't pass up the opportunity to host a Spring themed event.
This time around, just like Fall 2009, the Retreat weekend project was another surprise! Before they arrived, the only information quilters were given was the theme "Spring Brings a Garden of Quilts" and the colorways they had to choose from: Sunrise (pastels on white), Midday (brights on white), or Evening (batiks on black). Just like the retreats before this, Suzanne kept the entire project under wraps until her grand reveal at the retreat. And the grand reveal still kept a lot of secrets from the quilters! Of course, everyone was given all of the fabrics in their chosen colorway to complete the project. But the entire project was still a secret--Suzanne handed out the pattern and instructions one step at a time! So, this kept her secret going even longer. The quilters would see what they were making as they finished the project! Below, you can see the creative display of fabrics that was true to the theme of the weekend. Each colorway was rolled into a rose-shaped spiral and placed into a decorative tin flower pot. Once all the flower pot fabrics were revealed the sewing room was filled with the brightness of Spring, sounds of happy chirping from the elated quilters, and a cool Springtime breeze from their busy sewing machines.
Sunrise/Pastels: Midday/Brights:
Evening/Batiks:
Once the first round of instructions were handed out, fabrics were cut and sewn nonstop! Nonstop, that is, until it was time to take a break for more delicious food. There was also the Block Challenge to vote on. The Block Challenge was a fun extra project that the quilters worked on before they came for the weekend. Each quilter came to the retreat with a finished block and all blocks were displayed at the Retreat. Each quilter voted for his or her favorites: winner of best technique went to Jimmy Gainey and the other three awards most creative, most unusual, and most popular went to Sandy.
By the end of the weekend, everyone was full from the delicious meals served by the Conference Center Staff and happy with the quilts they had put together. Thanks to all who came to the 2010 Spring Retreat. It is because of our loyal and enthusiastic quilters that we can host such fun, eventful, and productive retreats for you all. We are already looking forward to our next retreat, believe it or not! The 2010 Fall Retreat will be held during the first weekend in November, the 5th, 6th, and 7th. Check our next eNewsletter for links to our 2010 Fall Retreat information.
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We have officially survived our Second Annual Quilt Escape! For a second year, the retreat was held in Norman Park, Georgia at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center. It's a beautiful facility with plenty of space for all 50 participating ladies to spread out and quilt their hearts out. We were fed well (lots and lots of good Southern cooking), many ladies made new friends, and everyone enjoyed the felowship.
Suzanne and Shirley were the two representatives from Suzanne's Quilt Shop just like last year, and they both had a great time presenting this year's participants with their mystery quilt kits. The theme this time around was: Making a Quilt is Easy as Pie! The girls back at the shop had a great time packaging the kits into an extra special package for each lady this year. The mystery quilt kits were kept secret from retreat participants until the grand reveal on the weekend of the retreat, so to be sure each quilter would be elated with her finished quilt, we asked: "Do you prefer Cherry Pie, Caramel Chocolate Pie, Key Lime Pie, or Pumpkin Spice Pie?" This had the retreat-goers wiggling for months in anticipation of the retreat weekend's project. (Suzanne loves to be sneaky!) Final presentation of the "pies" had the quilters elated and ready to sew, especially when Suzanne and Shirley presented the pie themed quilt kits while wearing Chef's hats and aprons!
Of course, the weekend started with a warm and friendly meet-and-greet in the grand entryway of the facility. But not too much time was spent just sitting around and chatting--these ladies came to sew for the weekend, so everyone got settled in pretty quickly:
There were a few opportunities to be distracted from "making pie" and everyone loved each chance to appreciate another quilter's work. First there was a Show-and-Tell of past projects. Quilters brought their finished projects from last year's Retreat, some brought projects they had worked on throughout the year, and one quilter even showed off a beautiful Christmas tree skirt.
Other than breaks for delicious meals made by the spectacular Convention Center Kitchen Staff, the next distraction to stop the quilters' machines from buzzing was a block contest. Each lady brought a block, and three winners were selected from the whole lineup. Everyone did a beautiful job on their Autumn-inspired blocks, and they were all so festive lined up next to each other.
After more quilting, chatting, and having an over-all good time, another contest began: APRONS! The quilters were encouraged to bring an apron they had made and model it for the contest. There were many very distinct and pretty aprons sewn--such a creative bunch of ladies! In the end, three aprons were selected as winners. What better sewing project to judge than aprons for a pie-themed weekend?
The 2009 Fall Quilt Escape was such a hit, we already have quilters signed up for the retreat coming in the Spring of 2010. With only 50 spots to fill, this 2009 Fall Quilt Escape list was overflowing before we knew it and many quilters were lined up on a waiting list. Don't miss your chance to be in on the fun when Spring comes around! Come into the shop or call us to reserve your spot now.
Cherry Pie: Pumpkin Spice Pie:
Key Lime Pie: Caramel Chocolate Pie:
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